Browse common questions about assessments, pricing factors, preparation, resurfacing, repairs, conversions and commercial projects. Choose a topic below, or send us photographs if you are unsure which guidance applies.
Photographs and basic pool details support an initial review, but they cannot confirm concealed conditions or the final repair scope.
Photographs often help identify the visible pool construction, finish and obvious problems, so they are strongly encouraged. They cannot confirm the bond or condition of concealed material. The final preparation and repair scope follows planned emptying and inspection of the exposed interior.
No—do not empty a pool solely to identify it or investigate a problem. Removing the water changes the support acting on the shell. Emptying should be planned around the pool construction, groundwater, drainage and site conditions.
Pool size is only one part of the price. The existing surface, access, pool shape, fittings and amount of preparation can have a greater effect. Costs can increase where failed paint, tiles or a vinyl liner must be removed, or where cracks, osmosis, hollow areas, corrosion, movement or an uneven substrate need repair. A useful quotation should state what removal, preparation, repairs, lining, finish and clean-up are included so different proposals can be compared on the same scope.
The exposed condition is documented and compared with the anticipated scope. If a finding materially changes the repairs, programme or cost, it should be explained and agreed before additional work proceeds.
Learn what generally happens between assessment, preparation, installation, curing and refilling the pool.
There is no reliable standard duration. Pool type, condition, access, drying, repairs, weather, curing and refill arrangements all affect the programme. Ask for a project-specific sequence and assumptions rather than relying on a generic number of days.
Refilling begins only after the installed system has reached its required cure and Fibreglaze confirms the pool is ready. The project scope should identify the agreed responsibilities for water supply, initial water balancing, plant operation and early surface care.
No. Unsound, loose, contaminated or otherwise unsuitable material is removed as required. Firmly bonded material may sometimes remain after assessment and preparation. For a vinyl-to-fibreglass conversion, the flexible liner is removed in full so the supporting construction can be inspected.
Not automatically. Sound coping and waterline tiles can often remain while the pool interior is prepared and the new lining is detailed to meet them. Replacement may be recommended where tiles are loose, hollow, cracked or deteriorated, where the junction cannot be sealed reliably, or where the owner wants an appearance change. The bedding, grout and edge detail should be inspected so the quotation clearly states what will remain, what will be removed and how the new surface will finish at the pool edge.
Yes, resurfacing generally allows you to select a new colour rather than matching the original faded finish. The water colour you see will also be influenced by the pool depth, sunlight, surrounding landscaping and the chosen surface colour. Available colours and finish conditions depend on the resurfacing system being used, so review current samples before making a final selection. Repairs and preparation are completed first so the new colour is applied as part of a continuous finished surface.
The existing construction and surface determine what must be inspected, removed, retained or prepared before a new fibreglass lining.
Yes, older fibreglass pool shells can be renewed with a new fibreglass surface, including pools affected by fading, osmosis blisters, cracking, roughness or general wear.
Often, firmly bonded sections of the existing lining can remain, but the decision is based on their condition rather than age alone. Hollow, lifted, deteriorated or moisture-affected laminate must be removed back to sound material, and exposed concrete or fibreglass repaired and levelled. Cracks, penetrations and movement details are treated separately before a continuous reinforced lining is installed across the prepared interior. The final removal scope is confirmed after the pool is emptied and the existing bond can be systematically assessed.
Often, provided the existing pebblecrete and the concrete shell beneath it are sound enough to form a stable base. Loose, hollow, deteriorated or contaminated material must be removed, while cracks, previous repairs and uneven areas are treated before the new lining is installed.
Firmly bonded pebblecrete is mechanically prepared, levelled where required and primed before the reinforced fibreglass system is applied. The final scope can only be confirmed after the pool is emptied and the exposed surface is inspected; the new surface is not simply a coating applied over untreated pebblecrete.
Often, provided enough of the Marblesheen and concrete shell beneath it remain sound enough to form a stable base. Loose, hollow, drummy or deteriorated material is removed, while firmly bonded areas are mechanically prepared. Cracks and previous repairs are treated and rough or uneven sections are levelled before the reinforced lining is installed. The work is not simply a coating over untreated Marblesheen; the final preparation and repair scope is confirmed after the pool is emptied and the exposed interior inspected.
A further paint system may suit a pool where the existing coating and substrate are sound and the owner intends to retain a paint finish. Fibreglass resurfacing is more involved, but may be appropriate where coatings are repeatedly peeling, blistering or chalking, or where cracks, pitting and earlier repairs also need to be incorporated into a continuous lining. Neither option should be selected from appearance alone. Compare the removal, preparation, repairs, finished system and likely future maintenance included in each quotation.
It depends on the pool condition and the owner’s priorities. A replacement liner may suit a sound pool where the flexible lining system is to be retained. Conversion is more involved, but replaces the liner, seams and wrinkle-prone surface with a continuous bonded interior. The underlying structure still needs inspection and repair, so conversion should not be used to conceal corrosion, movement or substrate damage. Compare the complete scopes, maintenance and future replacement cycle rather than upfront price alone.
In suitable cases, firmly bonded tiles can be mechanically prepared and levelled as part of a fibreglass conversion. Loose, hollow or unstable tiles and grout must be removed, and deeper losses repaired, so the new lining is supported by a sound base. Structural cracks, leaking penetrations and movement joints need separate assessment rather than simply being covered. Whether partial retention is appropriate depends on a systematic bond survey of the tiled surface and the condition of the substrate beneath it.
Yes. A purpose-built fibreglass lining can be installed over a suitably cured and prepared concrete pool shell. The concrete structure remains in place and the reinforced lining is formed on site to follow its shape, steps and details. The shell must first be assessed for moisture, laitance, cracking, penetrations, construction joints and surface irregularities. Defects and active movement details are treated before the fully bonded lining and selected colour finish are installed.
Age alone does not confirm readiness. The concrete needs to meet the pool design and lining-system requirements, with moisture, curing, laitance, cracks, penetrations, joints and surface tolerances assessed before work begins. Weak, contaminated or excessively damp areas can affect the bond of an applied finish. Fibreglaze should coordinate with the pool builder or designer to confirm the shell is released for surfacing, then mechanically prepare and test the actual substrate rather than relying only on a nominal cure date.
Visible symptoms can have more than one cause. These answers explain what may need investigation before deciding whether repair or resurfacing is appropriate.
It depends on the source of the leak. If the leak is caused by cracks or deterioration in the pool shell, repairs will form part of the resurfacing work rectifying any associated leaks. Leaks from plumbing, fittings or other components need to be identified separately.
Yes, cracks and areas of crazing can be repaired as part of the resurfacing process. We assess the crack first, prepare the area, make the repair and reinforce it where required before applying the new finish.
Osmosis bubbles, also called blisters, can develop when moisture reacts with standard general purpose resins beneath the pool’s gelcoat. They may appear as small raised bubbles on the walls or floor. During resurfacing, affected areas are prepared and repaired before the new more advanced fibreglass Enduratec System is applied.
Delamination may appear as a raised sheet or bubble, a soft or flexible area, flaking around an edge, or a section that sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Water may be released when a failed area is opened. The visible boundary can be smaller than the separation underneath, so tapping alone cannot confirm the full extent. A systematic inspection is needed to map unstable areas and determine whether the separation is limited to the surface or extends into the original laminate.
Oxidised gelcoat commonly looks faded, patchy or chalky and may leave a powdery residue when rubbed. Calcium scale is a mineral deposit added to the surface, so it is more likely to feel raised, crusted or sandpaper-like, particularly around the waterline and high-evaporation areas. Staining and scale can also sit over a worn finish, making visual diagnosis difficult. Check the water balance and have the surface assessed before using aggressive chemicals, because a treatment suited to scale can further damage ageing gelcoat.
A pool surface described as hollow or drummy makes a noticeably different sound when lightly tapped because the render, plaster, Pebblecrete, Marblesheen or earlier levelling layer may no longer be fully bonded to the concrete shell. The surface can still look intact, so tapping is only a screening check; it does not show the full boundary or cause. The empty pool should be systematically surveyed, with loose areas opened back to sound material so moisture, cracks, contamination and movement in the substrate can be assessed before resurfacing.
Commercial and public facilities require additional planning for access, shutdowns, safety requirements, finishes and return to service.
Useful information includes pool dimensions and construction, the existing finish, known defects, leaks and previous repairs, drawings, photographs, fittings, markings and movement joints. Access, draining and water-disposal arrangements, plant isolation, working-hour restrictions, fixed events and the required reopening date can materially affect the programme. Identify any designer, certifier, operator or other contractor who must approve details. A site inspection and project-specific scope are still required, and the quotation should state its assumptions and how concealed deterioration will be handled.
There is no reliable standard closure period because the programme depends on pool size, access, construction, removal, repairs, cure conditions, refill time and commissioning. Hidden deterioration or work to joints, penetrations and markings can change the sequence. A commercial proposal should include a project-specific programme, hold points and assumptions. Facility managers should identify fixed events, seasonal demand, plant constraints and the latest acceptable reopening date before the scope is finalised.
Yes, these elements can be incorporated when identified and specified before installation. Locations, colours, dimensions, surface texture and junction details should be coordinated with the facility operator, designer and project requirements. Slip-resistant treatment is normally targeted to nominated areas so barefoot comfort, cleanability and slip performance can be balanced. Existing markings and fittings should be documented so the quotation states what will be reinstated, replaced or altered.
Sometimes, but staging is not suitable for every pool. It depends on whether pools or hydraulic zones can be isolated, safe access maintained and each stage prepared, cured and commissioned without contaminating adjacent work. Interfaces between stages must remain technically sound. The operator, contractor and designer should review plant operation, public separation, water treatment, access and reopening requirements before promising partial operation. In some facilities, one planned closure is safer and more efficient than several short closures.
Pool assessment and quote enquiry
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